“The Reappearance of Rachel Price": A Chilling Mystery With Secrets Lurking on Every Page

Everyone in Gotham, New Hampshire, knows that Rachel Price has been missing for over a decade. What they don’t know is how she disappeared without a trace and whether she’s still alive.

“The Reappearance of Rachel Price” is bestselling author Holly Jackson’s newest mystery novel, released April 2. It follows 18-year-old Bel Price as she and her family are a part of a documentary on the topic of her mom’s disappearance. 

Rachel Price disappeared 16 years ago, leaving 2-year-old Bel alone in the back of her car in a mall parking lot. No one knows if she was kidnapped or if she abandoned Bel. 

However, as the film crew begins to create the documentary, Rachel reappears and Bel’s world changes forever. Rachel is not like Bel expected her to be, and the story of her disappearance isn’t adding up. Bel senses something is off about her mom and she’s determined to find out what really happened to her.

In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Jackson said “The Reappearance of Rachel Price” was her most exciting book yet: “Writing this book utterly wrecked me, and that’s why I think it might be my best yet. With everything readers have come to expect from me: twists that will make it embarrassing to read in public, a mystery that will have you questioning just how unhinged I am. Get ready, because Rachel Price is about to come back from the dead, and just like her daughter – Bel – you’re going to have to question everything if you want to uncover the truth.” 

“The Reappearance of Rachel Price” is an intriguing, fast-paced mystery full of tension and family secrets. The buildup to the climax of the story is paced well and the book doesn’t drag on unnecessarily long. 

In a review by The Nerd Daily, Emily M. highlighted how the author excels in writing the classic true crime style narrative: “Jackson has done something so smart with this style of narrative. It is almost uncomfortably close to the characters, making you feel like a fly on the wall or a viewer of the very documentary being made. It makes you complicit in the exploitation Bel feels and the way a tragedy in her life that she cannot even remember has been turned into a bingeable mystery and obsession.”

Some readers on a popular reading site called Goodreads found that Bel’s personality was hard to like, but others loved her. Her humor is dry and sarcastic and she’s never afraid to speak her mind, even if it offends someone. She can be harsh at times, and often seems to disregard the feelings of those around her. 

Despite this, Bel also has a protective nature and would do anything for her loved ones. She and her father, Charlie, have a wholesome father-daughter dynamic. It’s just been the two of them for the past 16 years, so they rely on one another daily and understand each other better than anyone. 

Carter, Bel’s cousin, also has a great bond with her. Carter and her mom Sherry have always had a tense relationship, partly due to Sherry always pushing her to diet and spend her life dancing. Because of this, Carter often spends the night at Bel’s house and they’re closer than sisters.

Over the course of the book, Bel develops an unlikely friendship with Ash, documentary director Ramsey’s nephew. Ash’s personality and unique sense of fashion is distasteful to Bel at first, but he eventually grows on her and the two of them work together to solve the mystery of Rachel’s reappearance. Bel is slow to open up to anyone other than her dad and Carter, so it was nice to see her character development as she gradually extended her trust to Ash. 

The story and dialogue flow well from page to page; it’s genuinely hard to put the book down and not finish it in one sitting. However, while the climax of the book was unexpected and a shocking turn of events, it felt a bit unrealistic and wasn’t quite as satisfying of an ending as readers might hope for. The ending is also hard to believe and seems a bit rushed. 

While fans of Jackson’s best-selling series “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” are sure to love this book as well, it’s likely they will not find it quite as compelling. It is a good book, no doubt about it. However, it is lacking in some areas of the plot, such as the abrupt ending and unrealistic plot twists. 

Although “The Reappearance of Rachel Price” may not be everyone’s cup of tea, those who love thrillers and mysteries will likely devour Jackson’s newest novel. 

At a Glance:

“The Reappearance of Rachel Price”

Main characters: Bel Price, Rachel, Charlie, Ash, Carter, Sherry and Jeffrey Price, and Ramsey Lee.

Summary: Rachel Price disappeared years ago without a trace. Two-year-old Bel was the only witness. Sixteen years later, film director Ramsey Lee and his crew are creating a documentary on the Price family. As they are filming the documentary, Rachel miraculously returns home and the entire focus of the documentary shifts. Bel sets out to solve the mystery of her mom’s reappearance and set the story straight.

Author: Holly Jackson was born in 1992 and grew up in Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom. She wrote her first novel when she was 15 and her first bestseller when she was 26. She earned her master’s degree in English at the University of Nottingham, with an emphasis on literary linguistics and creative writing. Jackson currently resides in London, where she has sold millions of copies of her ​​#1 New York Times bestselling series, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.” Her books have been translated into 25 languages and are sold all across the globe. 

Genres: Mystery and thriller

Price: $15.74 on Amazon 

Recommended Age: Due to some strong language and violent scenes, this book is suitable for readers ages 12 and older.

Rating: ★★★★☆